A decent life
April 18, 2021
For some years now I A Rehman Sahib, who passed away gracefully and in harness at age ninety last week, would let out a wry lament, ‘Fighting state oppression presented a clearer adversary than is the case now.’
Society itself had darkened through the years. No matter. He continued to smile, take short, resolute steps and push back against the shadows. He leaves behind a mighty message. One does what one must to preserve decency in society and to live a decent life oneself.
Rehman Sahib’s comrade for decades, Professor Amin Mughal, once described for some of us the creed by which the doctor in Camus’ novel ‘The Plague’ lived, even when his efforts seemed so inadequate in quelling the disease. “He did not leave the city when he could have because to do so wouldn’t have looked good. Comrade, the doctor running away from his patients would have been a grotesque spectacle”. Some posts must be guarded, not because it is heroic to do so
The writer is a human rights advocate and journalist.
IT is difficult to imagine Pakistan without I.A. Rehman, someone for whom the word ‘irreplaceable’ feels inadequate. Throughout the country’s existence, he touched so many lives through his many contributions. He was a much-loved journalist and writer, the author of three books and countless articles, most famously on this page. He was a keen promoter of culture through his work on film and theatre. He was a brave activist, who promoted peace, resisted military rule, stood up for the rule of law, and fought for democracy.
He was a human rights defender. Like his Human Rights Commission of Pakistan colleague Kamran Arif, who also passed away recently, Rehman Sahib dedicated his life to defending the rights of others. They included families of the forcibly disappeared, whose loved ones had been wrenched away from them and placed outside the protection of the law. Journalists, who were threatened, silenced and attacked for do
HRCP grieved over death of its KP vice chairman
National
April 4, 2021
LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condoled the death of Kamran Arif, vice chairman of HRCP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on April 2.
A senior lawyer and internationally respected human rights defender, Arif was associated with HRCP for almost 30 years, during which he led high-profile fact-finding missions to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit and Balochistan; trained hundreds of activists in international human rights law; and remained a staunch advocate against custodial torture, enforced disappearances and death penalty.
As co-chair of HRCP from 2011 to 2017, Arif spoke up consistently for human rights particularly freedom of expression and of religion and belief in the context of the criminal justice system. He articulated time and again the need to ensure that former Fata was mainstreamed into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but as HRCP secretary general Harris Khalique noted, “Kamran Arif believed more in
Again, it is heartbreaking
April 4, 2021
Well, a poor scribe may not be entitled to what is recognised as writer’s block but I am finding it hard to write this column. Given the overall state of affairs in this country, this journalistic task is even otherwise not a very exciting experience. However, things go awry when a certain mood assails your senses just when the deadline looms.
What is really making me anxious is that I am unable to deal adequately with any of the many matters that I find relevant this week. For instance, I am mindful of the fact this column is being published on a fourth of April. It is a date that is etched in blood in Pakistan’s history.